Perspective

[Wise old Bee]

Like a few other posters on here I used to look up, from the 4th division, with great envy at the likes of established second level sides like Portsmouth, Cardiff, Charlton etc. and never really thought we would be where we are now. As to advancing any further, I suspect I would enjoy a season in the Premier League because we would be back where we were in my father and grandfather's time. However, apart from enabling MB to recoup some of his generous outlay on the club, there are not too many redeeming features of playing at that level unless we retain a degree of independence and integrity from the monster that that league has become and retain our identity and I can't see us being able to do that.

 

[AB]

No more like a loud shout!!!!

Not too loud right now but will increase in volume for each game we don’t win.

 

[brooks]

Like a few other posters on here I used to look up, from the 4th division, with great envy at the likes of established second level sides like Portsmouth, Cardiff, Charlton etc. and never really thought we would be where we are now. As to advancing any further, I suspect I would enjoy a season in the Premier League because we would be back where we were in my father and grandfather's time. However, apart from enabling MB to recoup some of his generous outlay on the club, there are not too many redeeming features of playing at that level unless we retain a degree of independence and integrity from the monster that that league has become and retain our identity and I can't see us being able to do that.

An ambition would be to try to follow the Norwich long-term plan of retaining a place in the top 26. For them it means up/down regularly. For us it would offer the hope of promotion but, more realistically, give us something to aim for at a high level.

 

[Bee(h)Iver]

An ambition would be to try to follow the Norwich long-term plan of retaining a place in the top 26. For them it means up/down regularly. For us it would offer the hope of promotion but, more realistically, give us something to aim for at a high level.

I'd happily take that. It'd be a nice change from past relegations if we knew for certain we'd get wads of cash even though we'd gone down

 

[GABS]

Betting odds reflect bets already placed and what bookies are likely to lose.,not the likelyhood of what will or not happen.

Well aware of that, it is still a good indication that "very small chance" is probably a push of a statement to say the least.

Here's another take then ?

 

[rodders]

Well aware of that, it is still a good indication that "very small chance" is probably a push of a statement to say the least.

Here's another take then ?

View attachment 24275

I of course very much hope the above is right

 

[marvelous007]

Been giving this a bit more thought after what has been a disastrous week for the team one way and another

As fans we can be critical of team selection and tactics however we are living in strange times and normality has flown out the window. Like a number of Managers Coaches etc Thomas is dealing from a very suspect deck and I would imagine he dreads hearing from the medical team regarding which players are running on empty. We are probably in the area of moving the deckchairs on the Titanic and pretty much left with playing those less exhausted than others. In that scenario to try and change tactics is just not an option as by game time their is every chance the available personnel might have changed.

That having been said it still remains our objective to achieve promotion and that has not changed since the season started, and it rather feels like Thomas is rather hamstrung by the, what now seems, a depleted squad.

The argument that we have been in much worse positions during our life times does not really stand scrutiny as, whist our History is extremely important, no previous regime has had the same resources and leadership as now and I have to wonder at the limited incoming transfer activity in January

However for all the gloom on here the threads writing off our promotion hopes and the inditement of our players ability we have shown this season that we can mix it with anyone. We have shown steel at times and, on our day, are possibly the most attractive team in the league.

Last week brought us down to earth with a considerable bump yet, despite that we remain 2nd in the table, I accept Swansea have games in hand but they have to win them ( we have been down that route in the past) To a greater or lesser degree we still control our destiny and if we can scramble an ugly win this week we can start to fire up again knowing some of our players will soon return.

A tough job to select a team this week but our players can perform, we can start to pick up points and let the likes of Swansea etc worry about their own squads that are running out of steam.

Things are never completely Black or White and who knows, perhaps the recent setback will stop us getting above ourselves in expectations and enable us to appreciate that there are still many twists and turns to come for all the clubs in the Championship and we have as good a chance as others in finishing top 2

Not sure what he is smoking, but very sensible post as usual.

 

[Wise old Bee]

An ambition would be to try to follow the Norwich long-term plan of retaining a place in the top 26. For them it means up/down regularly. For us it would offer the hope of promotion but, more realistically, give us something to aim for at a high level.

I suspect that the club have ambitions along those lines which is a realistic aim and wouldn't involve dispensing with our current model of squad acquisition.

 

[rodders]

I suspect that the club have ambitions along those lines which is a realistic aim and wouldn't involve dispensing with our current model of squad acquisition.

This thought had occurred to me over the last 18 months or so. Up till now we have adopted the strategy of trading up , which has worked wonderfully;y and got us to a place most of us old lags would not have even dreamed off. Having got to where we are I wonder whether a re think is necessary to take the next step.

 

[AB]

This thought had occurred to me over the last 18 months or so. Up till now we have adopted the strategy of trading up , which has worked wonderfully;y and got us to a place most of us old lags would not have even dreamed off. Having got to where we are I wonder whether a re think is necessary to take the next step.

Obviously we’ve got to get there first but I have a feeling MB is a bit more ambitious than that. Apart from recruiting, developing and profiting another facet of the buying policy has been to have a squad for where we want to be rather than where we are. So, years back I remember MB/Rasmus talking of how the squad in 12/13 was good for mid-Championship. That meant the upgraded team that went up was better still, which is how it turned out in 14/15.

Recent blip aside (and it may be we just get done by injuries) there’s evidence from our long unbeaten run and progress in the Carabao that our ideal 16 man squad this season would be safely midtable PL. I think MB would be looking for that as a level, much as Bournemouth managed. But we’d be very viable as a yoyo club.